Hayley Palmer with the school’s winning bare shorn ram.
A swag of awards.
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That’s the best way to describe the outcome of Finley High School’s appearance at the Australian Wool and Sheep Show earlier this month.
On July 14, Finley High’s head of agriculture teacher Robyn O’Leary headed to the Bendigo show with eight students and a trailer load of soon to be award winning sheep.
With ten top three finishes, the Finley High School show team certainly had a successful outing.
Headlining the school’s list of achievements was the first place finish in the open sector Bare Shorn Ewe class - their first win with an adult sheep at the prestigious show.
“It was a really good achievement,” Mrs O’Leary said.
“We’ve been to the show for years now and every year we seem to able to do that bit better, so we were really thrilled to get first place with that ewe.
“We have never won an adult sheep class before, so that was very exciting.”
The first-place finish is also a great feat for a country school, Mrs O’Leary highlighted.
“You’re competing with the best of the best studs, so for a school from country New South Wales to be up there competing with the big players - we were very happy.”
Principal Jeff Ward with (back, from left) Eric Chesworth, Rosie Steel, Maggie Bramley, Tom White and Ryan Bauer; (front) Hayler Palmer and Mick Chesworth. Missing is Angus Bain.
Getting to show let alone being competitive is a long process.
“In order to represent the school in a good way, you need to be feeding your animals well.
“They need to have a good scale about them and the right fat coverage to be competitive.”
And the shorn events have an added layer of difficulty, which required preparedness.
“They have to be shorn correctly to fit into their class,” Mrs O’Leary said.
“The winning rams and ewes that were bare shorn need to be shorn fairly close to the event. If not, their wool is actually too long.”
The eight students who attended the show with Finley High - ranging from Year 7 to Year 11 - were also required to work hard during the event.
Angus Bain with the Schools Interbreed champion ram.
Each had strict responsibilities to ensure the animals are kept in top shape.
“The sheep needed feeding when we got there, so they have to go and give them some grain then water,” Mrs O’Leary explained.
“After they had finished their grain they gave them hay, then once finished eating the students clean their faces and their knees so that they look nice and presentable.
“The students also cleaned the manure out of the pens and tidy them regularly, top up with straw to help keep the sheep clean and keep them off the concrete floors.
“Also on first arrival the students are asked to set up their area. They have to put up signs and put up cards from the show society that need to be matched to specific sheep.
Hayley Palmer with the Schools Interbreed champion ewe.
“There are also signs that display pedigree, so when people come along they can read them and get an idea of the background of the sheep.”
The students also take a hands on approach in the show ring, parading the sheep in front of the judges.
“It makes the incredible success not only a reflection of the sheep, but the students who handled them.”
Those who got out of their comfort zone and took part in the Junior Judging Competitions were rewarded with minor placings.
Finley High’s results from Bendigo were as follows:
First in the Schools Interbreed Ram Challenge.
First in the Schools Interbreed Ewe Challenge.
Second in the Schools Interbreed Pair of Sheep Challenge.
First in Bare Shorn Ewe Class.
Third in Novice Ewe Lamb class.
First in Novice Ewe Lamb class.
First and second in Novice Ewe under 1.5 years.
First and second in Novice Ram under 1.5 years.
Next in the school’s showing schedule is the Finley Show in September.
They will then compete at the Melbourne Show, giving the school another chance to prove themselves on another big stage.
Erin Chesworth and Rosie Steel with the Schools Interbreed Pair of Sheep entrants.
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